Mt. Juliet City Commissioners discussed at length Monday night their response to the Wilson County School Board's rejection of their recent counter-offer to settle a lawsuit regarding the city's owed unpaid liquor-by-the drink taxes.

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd and Journeys Group, a division of Nashville-based Genesco Inc., announced Tuesday the company will expand distribution operations in Lebanon, investing $35 million and creating 72 new jobs in Wilson County.

Brenda Ashford works on sweeping the exhibit hall floor as staff at the Wilson County Expo Center make ready for their open house of the new facility Monday. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. with the open house from 5-7 p.m.
DALLUS WHITFIELD / The Wilson Post

REAL Trends, which ranks the performance of residential real estate firms and teams in the United States, recently announced its fourth annual America's Best Real Estate Agents list for 2016, where two Wilson County agent team joined its prestigious rank of an elite group of real estate agents across the country.

Officials recently broke ground on a new commercial center in the Hamilton Springs transit oriented development off Highway 70 in West Lebanon. The 13,000-square-foot building, owned by Jack Bell and Rick Bell, will be 60 percent occupied upon completion, with businesses including an expanded Body Kneads, Etc. The move is expected to be complete in early summer 2017. Lose & Associates designed the building, which will be located on the east side of Hamilton Station Boulevard. Jack W. Bell Builders Inc. is the contractor. PHOTO COURTESY of JACK BELL BUILDERS.

The near year-long contentious battle between vocal Mt. Juliet neighbors versus a big developer ended last week when the Mt. Juliet Planning Commission voted to approve a final master development plan for a warehouse at Beckwith North.

First of all I have served on the Lebanon Planning Commission for 12 years, this is a few years more than Mr. Larry Hubbard. I can tell you he is way out of line in saying what he did about emotions playing a part in my resigning. Why does my resigning even warrant a comment from him??? Do not speak for me.

SO.F.TER. Group, one of the world's largest independent thermoplastic compounders with U.S. headquarters near Highway 109 in Lebanon, announced Tuesday that it will be acquired by Dallas-based Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company.

The Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee recently held its annual Industry Appreciation Day, recognizing Lebanon's LoJac Inc. and their commitment and service to the community. Founded in 1983 by B.F. "Jack" Lowery and Donald G. Chambers, LoJac Inc. provides high quality services and materials to the construction industry throughout the Southeast. Members of the chamber committee had the opportunity to talk with LoJac's executive staff while employees enjoyed lunch from Honeybaked Ham Co. The chamber would like to extend a special thank you to CedarStone Bank for sponsoring the event. SUBMITTED

The official ribbon cutting for Baskin-Robbins was held last weekend at the Sellar's Park location in Mt. Juliet. Face painting, a spin-wheel for free ice cream and more drew people to the famous frozen eatery. Open since June, owners are excited about operating in Mt. Juliet.

A popular national coffee chain may soon be opening in the Providence area.

After nine months of negotiation and debate, two stop work orders and a lawsuit, Mt. Juliet commissioners accepted a letter of credit and agreement from the developer responsible for the South Mt. Juliet Starbucks strip mall project Monday night.

"We won!" were the words of a Mt. Juliet city commissioner after a court ruling by judge C.K. Smith on Friday that said a city-issued work stoppage order on a South Mt. Juliet Starbucks strip mall will be upheld.

Tabbed the top-selling dealership in Tennessee for Dec. 2015, Rockie Williams' Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram breaks ground Wednesday in Mt. Juliet for a new state-of-the-art facility unlike any in the area.

It seems like we spend a lot of time talking about how great it is to have a healthy sales tax revenue to help to keep our property taxes low. While this is true, it's not the only contributor. The 24 businesses lining the route we know as the 840 corridor bring in over $4 million a year in both real and personal property taxes, but this hasn't always been the case.

They wore t-shirts that said "Vote No" and "Save Mt. Juliet" at a special called meeting last week by the developer who wants to build a massive warehouse near their neighborhood. The result was a deferment of the project until April 26 so further discussions and concessions can go forth.

"To be or not to be, that is the question" - where the Wilson County Expo Center is concerned. The Public Works Committee of the Wilson County Commission voted 5-2 this week to freshly recommend a proposal to build the Expo Center and sent it on to the Budget Committee.

As part of concessions during the negotitation phase of three major subdivisions planned for south Mt. Juliet, the developer agreed to pay what top-level city officials term an "infrastructure help fee" of $2,500 per home.

Mt. Juliet city commissioners approved on first reading one of three massive subdivisions planned for south Mt. Juliet, as well as requested city administration to initiate site selection for a new fire station Monday night.

MT. JULIET -- The final Mt. Juliet Planning Commission meeting for 2013 was the quietest of a very busy year.

The commission recommended approval of the final plat for the new Lifestyles Community to be located on Providence Parkway. The development is a townhome and apartment complex aimed at young single professionals.